About Us

First Thought Equine Ltd is a British based company formed in 1996 to market the Flair system after 4 ½ years of R&D. Since then the company has grown first by marketing Flair around the world and secondly by developing new and innovative products in the equestrian field.

Within two years of being launched, Flair was being sold and fitted in 15 countries and being fitted in new and old saddles by saddlers and saddle manufacturers.

The second product to be launched was Korrector in 2001. Originally developed to Flair western saddles it proved so good at correcting problems of fit in English saddles it original purpose was all but overlooked. Korrector has gone through some cosmetic changes in its time, including the introduction of the all leather version and the new felt pad for western saddles. Korrector cannot be surpassed for performance in reducing pressure and increasing bearing surface.

Whilst working with manufacturers and saddlers alike it became apparent that there was room for dramatic improvement for the traditional English saddle. 3 years of R&D produced the first WOW saddles which rapidly gained a reputation for improving the horse’s performance, so gaining the name WOW, as this was the first thing uttered by riders testing the saddle. WOW has been tested independently in at least three continents and has out-performed it competitors in pressure and gait analysis.

Every product First Thought Equine develops is for the benefit of the horse’s health and well-being but moreover for enhancing the performance of the ridden horse. All our products are manufactured in Kent, England.

Our factory nestles in a valley in the heart of the Kent countryside, just outside of the historic city of Canterbury, surrounded by Forestry and excellent riding. The company has its own string of horses for testing and improving our products as well as being used on our training courses with saddlers and public. When a client needs a more custom service, they can use our facilities, for an on the spot service where things can be tried, tested and modified before final production. This is the ultimate in our custom service.

Everything we make is computer designed and machine cut for accuracy and repeatability. Every piece of the saddle is made in house to our own designs.

Added to this, we offer you the possibility to make your own saddle totally unique by giving you the freedom to choose colours and finishes of the leather we use for the individual pieces that make the parts of your saddle. Not only is your WOW saddle totally changeable as your horse progresses through it training but totally unique to you and the market place.

Endorsements...

"The most interesting thing for me was that we know there is going to be pressure when we jump a horse but it was how fast that pressure was dissipated with the WOW saddle. That and how much more forward the horse was compared to what he was normally ridden in. He felt like he was enjoying it."

Philip Spivey

"Absolutely amazing saddles, I could not believe how much a saddle could improve Dora's movement! I can really recommend them!"

Izzy Chaplin

"The horses are all much freer through their shoulders both on the flat and when jumping. I love the ease of adaptability to fit different horses, being able to fine tune them and make subtle changes to the balance while on board which would be impossible in a traditionally flocked saddle."

Francis Whittington

"WOW Saddles technology is state of the art, which helps both the horse and rider achieve maximum performance and comfort. I can highly recommend the saddle to anyone who wants to get more out of your horse."

Natalie Blundell

"Since using WOW, Trigo, our Lusitano stallion no longer has panic attacks when being mounted or needs to be long reined before being ridden. His stride has opened up, improving his lateral work and he no longer freaks during training. He is all together a much happier horse."

Richard Maxwell

"My horses are far to valuable to me in every way, to consider using something as vitally important as a saddle, for any reason other than the horse's ability to perform to the very best of its' ability& WOW and Flair are a major step forward in the way we saddle our horses."

Richard Davison

"The saddle’s Flair air flocking system is proven to be far superior over traditional wool flocking or foam, for both fit and pressure distribution, enabling the horses to perform at their best cross country."

Paul Tapner

"Riding on WOW was amazing; a really different experience& He was totally free in the shoulder, totally over the back, I was almost trying to stop him and not push him& He felt completely through, a wonderful experience."

Wayne Channon

"Since using the Wow saddle I have felt a huge difference in Affinity Bay's way of going. He has the ability to come up more through the shoulder which allows him more easily to come under with his quarters and 'sit' in work such as canter pirouettes."